It’s a common annoyance: that persistent feeling of wetness and the constant need to wipe away tears, even when you’re not feeling emotional. If you’re experiencing ongoing watery eyes, you’re likely wondering, “Why Does My Eye Keep Watering?” While occasional watering eyes are normal, especially in response to irritants, persistent or excessive tearing can be a sign of an underlying issue that needs attention.
Understanding the reasons behind your constantly watering eye is the first step towards finding relief. This article will explore the common causes of persistent watery eyes, when it’s time to seek professional advice, and the treatment options available to address this bothersome condition.
Common Causes of Persistent Watering Eyes
Watery eyes, also known as epiphora, can stem from a variety of factors. Sometimes, your eyes are simply reacting to temporary irritants, but in other cases, it can indicate a more chronic condition. Here are some of the frequent culprits behind why your eye might be constantly watering:
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Environmental Irritants: Exposure to smoke, dust, pollen, or even cold, windy weather can irritate your eyes, triggering tear production as a protective mechanism. This is a normal response, but if these irritants are constantly present, your eyes may water excessively.
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Foreign Objects or Injury: A stray eyelash, a speck of dust, or any foreign particle in your eye will naturally cause tearing to flush it out. Similarly, an eye injury, even a minor scratch to the cornea, can lead to increased tear production as the eye attempts to heal and protect itself.
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Blocked Tear Ducts: Tears normally drain away from your eyes through small channels called tear ducts. If these ducts become blocked or narrowed, tears cannot drain properly and will overflow, leading to watery eyes. Blockages can occur due to infection, inflammation, injury, or even develop with age.
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Allergies and Infections: Allergic reactions, whether seasonal allergies or allergies to dust mites or pet dander, can cause eye irritation and excessive tearing. Eye infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye), which can be viral or bacterial, also commonly cause watery eyes, along with redness, itching, and discharge.
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Eyelid Problems: The position and function of your eyelids play a crucial role in tear drainage. Conditions like ectropion, where the eyelid turns outward, can prevent tears from reaching the tear ducts, causing them to spill over. Conversely, entropion, where the eyelid turns inward, can cause eyelashes to rub against the eye, leading to irritation and tearing. Other eyelid problems, such as inflammation or swelling, can also disrupt tear drainage.
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Dry Eye Syndrome: Paradoxically, dry eyes can be a significant cause of watery eyes. When your eyes don’t produce enough lubricating tears, or the tears are of poor quality, your eyes can become irritated. This irritation can trigger a reflex response, causing your eyes to overproduce tears in an attempt to compensate for the dryness. These reflex tears are often watery and don’t provide adequate lubrication, perpetuating the cycle of dryness and tearing.
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Bell’s Palsy: This condition, causing temporary weakness or paralysis of facial muscles, can affect the eyelids’ ability to close properly. This incomplete closure can lead to dry eye and reflex tearing.
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Medications and Cancer Treatments: Certain medications, including some antihistamines, decongestants, and medications for high blood pressure or depression, can have side effects that include dry eyes and subsequent reflex tearing. Similarly, some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can also affect tear production and drainage.
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Infant Tear Duct Development: It’s common for newborns and young babies to have watery eyes because their tear ducts are not yet fully developed. In most cases, this resolves on its own within the first few weeks or months of life as the tear ducts mature.
When to Seek Professional Advice for Watery Eyes
While home care and over-the-counter remedies can sometimes alleviate mild cases of watery eyes, it’s important to know when to seek professional medical advice.
Consult a Pharmacist For Initial Guidance
For mild and recent onset of watery eyes, a pharmacist can offer helpful advice and recommend over-the-counter treatments. They can suggest:
- Self-care measures: Such as gentle eye cleaning techniques and ways to protect your eyes from irritants.
- Over-the-counter products: Like artificial tears, lubricating eye drops, or allergy medications to help manage symptoms.
- Guidance on when to see a doctor: If your symptoms worsen or don’t improve with self-care.
When to See a Doctor (Non-Urgent)
It’s advisable to schedule a non-urgent appointment with your general practitioner (GP) or an optometrist if you experience any of the following:
- Persistent Watering Eyes Affecting Daily Life: If your eyes are constantly watering to the point where it’s interfering with your vision, work, or daily activities.
- Eyelid Abnormalities: If you notice your eyelid turning inwards or drooping away from your eye.
- Lumps or Swellings: If you develop any unexplained lumps or swellings around your eyes that don’t improve with pharmacist-recommended treatments.
Seek Urgent Medical Help
It’s crucial to seek urgent medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms alongside watery eyes:
- Changes in Vision: Such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision.
- Severe Eye Pain: Intense eye pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers.
In these urgent situations, contact your GP for an emergency appointment, visit an urgent care clinic, or seek guidance from NHS 111 (or your local equivalent) immediately. You can call 111 or get help online.
Treatment Options for Watery Eyes
Treatment for persistent watery eyes depends entirely on identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In some cases, if the watering is mild and not bothersome, treatment may not be necessary. However, when treatment is required, it can range from simple home remedies to medical interventions:
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For Dry Eyes: Lubricating eye drops, gels, ointments, or sprays are often the first line of treatment to replenish moisture and reduce irritation-induced tearing. Prescription eye drops may be necessary in more severe cases.
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For Eye Infections: Antibiotic eye drops or ointments are prescribed to treat bacterial eye infections like bacterial conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis typically resolves on its own, but symptomatic relief with artificial tears can be helpful.
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For Allergies: Antihistamine eye drops or oral antihistamines can help reduce allergic reactions and associated tearing. Avoiding known allergens is also crucial.
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For Foreign Objects: A doctor can safely and effectively remove any foreign object lodged in your eye.
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For Eyelid Problems or Blocked Tear Ducts: In cases of eyelid malposition or significant tear duct blockage, a minor surgical procedure may be recommended to correct the structural issue and restore proper tear drainage.
If your GP or optometrist is unable to determine the cause of your persistent watery eyes, they may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for further evaluation and specialized testing to pinpoint the underlying problem and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Persistent watery eyes can be disruptive and uncomfortable. By understanding the potential causes and knowing when to seek help, you can take proactive steps to find relief and maintain healthy vision.
